Download PDF - Stillness Speaks

esistance, offers an excellent way to identify ego and coax it out from behindits wall of self-serving rationalizations and deceits.Enough theory. How does it work? First, all actions, even the mosttrivial, are consecrated, dedicated at the altar of one’s choosing, and theresults renounced. Results dedicated to a higher altar accrue to the altar'saccount rather than to the ego's. For example, I want a new automobile.Before acting to manifest the desire, I should examine my motives. Will theautomobile make it easier to practice meditation? If the present vehicle won'tget me to work, and I need work to support myself and take care ofobligations (so I have time to meditate), the purchase of a vehicle qualifies asaction yoga. This technique calls for great integrity because the ego is notabove using spiritual ideas to justify unspiritual impulses. If the motivationis capricious- luxury or status, for example - the actions will conflict withspiritual values, agitating the mind and reinforcing unhelpful samskaras.Assuming the reasons are not frivolous, in an attitude of love andservice, action yoga enjoins one to consciously dedicate the endeavor atbeginning, a practice meant to hold one’s ideal (hopefully Selfrealization) in consciousness. When actions are performed for someone orsomething other than one’s ego, the disturbing and extroverting waves causedby anxiety over results are effaced. 85 Actions dedicated to causes and ideals,particularly those fueled by a sense of injustice or unexamined motives, donot necessarily qualify as action yoga because the cause, like nationalism, forinstance, may be the result of group ego - as unreal one's own.COUNT YOUR BLESSINGSDedication at the onset of action should be balanced by an attitudeof gratitude when results, positive or negative, accrue. Each lifeexperience, no matter how trivial, is a fructification of previous actions andprovides an excellent opportunity for practicing gratitude - even whenunwanted results manifest. For example, a man took a flight from New Yorkto San Francisco which was forced to make an emergency landing in Oaklandcausing him to miss an important appointment. He could either be upset hedidn't receive the intended result or be happy to be alive. Taking what comesas a gift neutralizes likes and dislikes. Since likes and dislikes are thecornerstone of Ego, purifying them exposes ego’s views. When practicereveals an unhealthy attitude the meditator can set out to remove it.85 The removal of disturbing waves in the Subtle Body is defined as yoga by Patanjali.61